Liberals unveil $1.9 billion airport rail plan

The Liberal Party says its airport rail link will cost almost $1.9 billion.

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The Liberal Party has promised to build a new airport rail link transporting domestic and international passengers to Perth Airport's front door if it wins the March election.

Premier Colin Barnett said the Perth Airport rail link would be built for Western Australia's future, offering public transport to travellers and opening up transport options to residents in the eastern suburbs.

"Our airport line will take West Australians and tourists straight to the door step of the airport terminal, delivering maximum convenience and cost savings for travellers," he said.

"Residents east of the airport will benefit from a public transport rail option into the city and the rail line will also service businesses at the proposed Perth airport business and industrial park."

Transport Minister Troy Buswell said the rail line would have three stations, 3000 parking bays and be built by 2018.

He said the project, including escalation and rail cars, had been costed at just under $1.9 billion.

"Unlike the Labor Party's airport rail line, the Liberal Party will not leave you sweating or shivering waiting for a shuttle bus more than one kilometre down the road," he said.

"We will take you directly to both the international and domestic terminals.

"Trains on our line are expected to run at least every 10 minutes at peak times and airport trains will integrate with services on the existing Midland line, resulting in increased train frequencies between Bayswater and Perth.

"This will be a bonus for existing Midland line passengers."

The planned rail alignment branches off the Midland line at Bayswater station, to the future consolidated Perth Airport terminal, with stations west and east of the airport as well as beneath the main terminal.

Global city

The Tourism Council of WA says plans to build a rail line to the airport will finally make Perth a truly global city.

Its chief executive Evan Hall says both pledges from Liberal and Labor are welcome news but he is not saying which plan he prefers.

"I think the important thing is what we've seen is a real commitment to infrastructure that's absolutely critical for the tourism industry," he said.

"It means we'll be able to get tourists, business travellers, backpackers to and from the airport with ease and at a good price."

Mr Hall says it will help tourism and business events.

"Rail connection from the airport to the CBD is a minimum standard for a global city," he said.

"Unless you have that sort of transport connection you're not really the sort of city that's going to host major world sporting and business events.

"So, this is a critical part of our city's infrastructure together with the stadium and the arena it means we will be a world event destination."